Chinese Class Review 11/25/17

Basic Chinese - Yes/No Questions 1 & 2

We learned more about Yes/No questions and the very important variant 有/没有. Please see the videos below for detailed explanation.

Your homework this week is to watch the videos above.

JW Language - Singular & Plural

Basically there really is no difference between singular & plural when it comes to inanimate objects such as books, phones, houses, etc. For instance one book is 一本书; two books is 两本书; one cell phone is 一个手机; two cell phones is 两个手机. You simply don't have to worry about the "s" of the object.

However, it's a little tricky when it comes to people. For sure we add a 们 to the following pronounces: 我们(we/us), 你们(you), 他们(they/them). Sometimes we add 们 to other pronounces such as 朋友们(friends), 孩子们(children). The tricky part is that there is no set rules as to which pronounce needs to have 们 and which doesn't. So just listen more to your Chinese friends and slowly you'll get the idea. Larry's recommendation is that only use 们 with we/us, you, they/them.

JW Language - This & That

We learned how to say this and that in Chinese. This one is very easy. A common mistake to avoid is that when you want to say "do this" or "do that", please say 这样做 or 那样做. NEVER say 做这样 or 做那样.

We'd also learned the two words 把 and 被.

Many people think the the word 被 is the equivalent of the verb to be in passive voice in English. This notion is gaining acceptance. We read sentences in contemporary publications and even the Watchtower magazines. I would like to point out, however, that many fundamentalists like Larry dislike using the word 被 in this way. Two points to keep in mind: 1. Many English teachers discourage using passive voice whenever possible. The same goes with Chinese. So try to avoid using the word 被 if you can. 2. The word 被 is commonly used in connection with undesirable things such as 被杀(was murdered), 被逮捕(was arrested), 被开除(was disfellowshipped). If you have to use passive voice and it's something good, I recommend using 获得 or 受.

Your homework is to convert sentences between 把 and 被.